Packers Undrafted Free Agents: Running Backs

If you’re looking for a position group on the Packers roster that might be infiltrated by an undrafted free agent, running back is a strong possibility.

Ryan Grant is likely gone, James Starks can’t stay healthy, Alex Green is coming off a bad knee injury and Brandon Saine is unproven. Here’s a look at the Packers 2012 undrafted free agent running backs and why they might have a shot at making the team.

Overview
Because I live in Minnesota, I get a chance to see the Gophers play on a regular basis. The Gophers are usually a chore to watch, but they had a few intriguing teams under Glen Mason. Using offensive lineman that were a bit undersized but extremely mobile, Mason built the Gophers’ offense around a running game that featured guys like Marion Barber III, Laurence Maroney, Thomas Hamner and Gary Russell.

After Mason left, the Gophers went from being a mediocre team that was somewhat fun to watch to a terrible team that is painful to watch. Those impressive offensive lines and dynamic running backs now seem like a distant memory, especially the offensive lines. Just ask Duane Bennett.

Bennett was recruited by Mason and kept his committment to the Gophers after Mason was fired. Because Bennett was a Mason recruit, and because Minnesota’s offensive line has been abysmal in the post-Mason era, I have some hope that Bennett might be a better player than his college stats indicate.

Bennett is strong, his 28 bench press reps at Minnesota’s pro day would’ve tied for the most among running back at the NFL combine. He’s also overcome a serious knee injury and makes an impact on special teams. He looked indecisive at times in college, but it was hard to tell if he was actually indecisivie or if the Gophers line was so bad that he just didn’t know what to do with himself.

After catching 33 passes his sophomore season, he never caught more than 18 after. But again, the decline could be a product of the Gophers’ offense being a mess.

Bennett doesn’t have one specific skill that makes you turn your head, but he’s got enough tools to make you at least pay attention. And who knows, on a competent team with a decent offensive line, maybe he’ll emerge.

Because of where he went to school and a highly publicized off-field incident, Marc Tyler is the most well-known of the Packers undrafted free agent running backs.

Tyler, the son of former NFL all-pro Wendell Tyler was highly recruited and expected to become another in a long line of USC superstars who achieved NFL success. Tyler achieved plenty of fame, but it was because of this video instead of anything he did on the field.

The “They breaking bread” video, combined with separate incidents involving accusations of spitting on a woman and groping another resulted in a one-game suspension and further tarnished a career that got off to a painful start.

Tyler broke his tibia and fibula late in his senior year of high school. After redshirting at USC in 2007, Tyler didn’t play much in 2008 and 2009 before rushing for 913 yards and nine touchdowns in 2010. After the video and suspension, Tyler ran for just 568 yards and four touchdowns his senior season.

Tyler won’t run away from many defenders, his 4.72 time in the 40-yard dash is proof of that. But he’s a tough runner with good vision and a high football IQ who could make the roster as a short-yardage back or a scrapper who carves a niche on special teams and works his way up.

While Bennett is looking to prove what he can do with a good offensive line, Tyler will be trying to prove that he’s more than the troublemaker and underachiever that many labeled him at USC. We’ll find out if a change in scenery leads to success on the field and a roster spot with the Packers.

Video

Nicholas Cooper, RB, Winston-Salem St.Height: 6-feed
Weight: 240 pounds
Pro Day Results: 40-yd Dash — 4.73; Bench Press — 19 reps.
Career Notes: Sat out 2009 to focus on academics. … Rushed for 3,430 yards in career, fourth-most in school history. … Finished with 43 career TDs. … Ran for 1,808 yards and 22 TDs final season. … Led Winston-Salem St. to a win over New Haven in the Division II quarterfinals with 132 yards and a touchdown.

OverviewDon’t look for Nicholas Cooper to compete with Bennett and Tyler for a spot at running back. Instead, Cooper will likely fight for a spot behind John Kuhn as an extra fullback.

The Kuhn-Cooper tandem has nickname potential if Cooper makes the team. Since Kuhn starred at Division II Shippensburg, Pa. and Cooper at Winston-Salem St., I’m going to call them the “D2 Wrecking Crew.”

Fullback is an unpredictable position with the Packers. They kept three fullbacks in 2010 and only one in 2011. Who knows what they’ll do this season, but I’m betting that Cooper has a lot of work to do in order to make the team.

Unless Cooper blows people away, I can’t see the Packers sacrificing other positions so they can keep an extra fullback around. We’ve also seen tight ends Tom Crabtree and D.J. Williams line up in the backfield in an H-back/fullback type of role, so its not like the Packers are desperate for another big body in the backfield.

A wild card in the Packers backfield is running back. If a running back gets hurt or flops in camp, perhaps Kuhn will see time at halfback and there will be a spot for another fullback.

Personally, I’m pulling for Cooper. I like how “Kuuuuuuuuuuhn” sounds when fans at Lambeau get fired up. “Cooooooop” also would have a nice ring to it.

VideoClick here to watch Cooper in action in the Division II playoffs against New Haven.

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Adam Czech is a a freelance sports reporter living in the Twin Cities and a proud supporter of American corn farmers. When not working, Adam is usually writing about, thinking about or worrying about the Packers. Follow Adam on Twitter. Twitter .

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Keep moving nothing to see here. A little unbending you say? Maybe one of them will show a talent yet to be discovered in the pre-season. If so great, but I don’t think they’ll be around too long.

BubbaOne

Re the RB position: I haven’t seen Cobb in any of the discussions. MM did put him in the backfield and even let him carry once. Now that MM is more comfortable w/ Cobb’s playmaking ability and will have him in a full offseason maybe he’ll be included in the RB mix.

PackMatt

Thanks Bubba I totatlly forgot about that. I def think they are gonna use Cobb in a lot of different situations this year. I remember when he got to pass it once, incomplete but I thought it looked like a well thrown ball. Possibilities are endless with an athlete like that.

CJ

I’ve watched Bennett in High School he and my son played on the same team. He as very good speed and the ability to break tackels. The Gophers seemed not to know how to use him and at times he was left to figuare it out himself. One more thing he is a good kid, no troubled past. Hope he can perform for the Pack.

Ed

Thanks for the info about Bennett. Seems like a classic TT ‘overlooked player’ acquisition. I am really impressed by his explosiveness, that high jump plus 28 presses is amazing. Hope he can succeed too.

Ed

Cobb needs to focus on becoming a complete receiver. (He will do fine, but there are some route-running subleties he himself recognizes that he heeds to turn into muscle memory instead of having to think on his feet.) Right now, Cobb’s lining up in the backfield is strictly trickery.

Long-term, Cobb could provide a decent change of pace back on occasion (a little like an old-fashioned flanker), and a wildcat (Wild Pack?) threat that doesn’t involve taking the playcall out of Aaron Rodgers brain. I am waiting eagerly for the offseason Cobb attends QB School, and a lot of direct snaps and flea flickers that fall.

But I wouldn’t expect that discussion here because it’s too early, and because this article was about the 2012 undrafted Rookies, which Cobb is not.

Shavager

Didn’t see anyone here that looks like a potential roster player unless Green can’t play, Starks injured in camp– Brandon Saine’s potential stands out and more likely Thompson would bring Ryan Grant back if price is right. McCarthy did say he would focus on improving the run scheme, run game is essential to complete offense but Packers telegraphed most run plays last year and after Clifton was injured got little blocking production for runs from Newhouse.

Shavager

For Packers fans who mention Cobb, those who watched him play SEC games know Cobb has ability to run with ball from reverse, wildcat, or option plays. Don’t eliminate that possibility, I’m sure McCarthy hasn’t especially when defenses aren’t ready for it. USE all your weapons, especially a playmaker.